It’s that time of year again – a time for back to school shopping, adjusting to your school year schedule, and just a little bit of worrying about new teachers and their knowledge of your child’s epilepsy. There is a lot for your student’s teachers to learn about this condition, but don’t be overwhelmed! Start by giving new teachers these few simple tips and eliminate the worrying from your back-to-school “to do” list!

5 Things Every Teacher Should Know About Epilepsy

1. Know what kind of seizures the student has, how often he or she experiences seizures, and what a typical seizure looks like.

2. Be a role model for other students in the classroom. You should respond to a seizure maturely and calmly and encourage other students to accept the child’s epilepsy.

3. Observe the child carefully for signs of a seizure or adverse affects of a medication. Report any unusual behavior or symptoms to the school nurse and the child’s parents.

4. Know basic seizure first aid and have a clear emergency plan to be implemented in case of a seizure.

5. Remember, the child does not want to feel different or be treated differently from his or her peers.

The best thing parents can do is take preventative measures to keep their children safe at school. Educating your child’s teachers, classmates, and school faculty members on your child’s condition can help save his or her life. It is also imperative that he or she wears a medical ID bracelet. Make sure your child’s medical alert is up-to-date with their epilepsy information, medications, and emergency contact numbers. Additionally, we recommend medical backpack tags to keep your kids safe at school. Check out our entire line of back-to-school epilepsy alert products

If your child has epilepsy, this is the most important school supply you can give them.